Ford & Paulekas, LLP

Ford & Paulekas, LLP is a business law firm based in Hartford, Connecticut with a long history of representing institutional, commercial and individual clients in their business and investment activities.

Firm Overview

Since its inception in 1979, the firm has served its clients' legal needs on a regional and national basis, and beginning in 1990's, the firm has represented its clients in international business and development activities in Mexico, Western Europe and the Middle East. The continued success of the firm in this demanding area of practice is achieved in large measure because the firm's lawyers are problem-solvers who combine sound business judgment and practical legal advice in counseling clients.

Our attorneys represent institutional, municipal and private clients on a statewide and national level.

Main Office

Main Office
280 Trumbull Street, Suite 2200
Hartford
CT
06103

Phone

860-527-0400

Websites

The firm has the capacity to handle the land use requirements for large-scale commercial office parks, retail shopping centers, hotels, and commercial and residential condominium projects.

The firm has prepared and negotiated air rights and ground lease ownership arrangements and complex reciprocal easement agreements associated with these kinds of developments. Members of the firm have appeared on behalf of their clients before numerous town and city agencies, including planning and zoning commissions, inland wetland and watercourse agencies, conservation commissions, and zoning boards of appeals, regarding various application, permit and compliance proceedings, and have successfully handled appeals of adverse decisions at both the superior and appellate court levels.

Paul W. Ford

Born in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1950, Mr. Ford received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Boston University in 1972, his M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1975, and his J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law in 1978. He was a member of the University of Maine Law Review from 1976-1978. Mr. Ford was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1978, the Connecticut Bar in 1979, the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut in 1991 and the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts in 1993. He is a member of the Massachusetts, Connecticut, American and International Bar Association. Mr. Ford focuses his practice in the representation of institutional investors in commercial real estate finance transactions, the private placement of debt and equity securities, and structured finance transactions. He also represents institutional and corpora te developers in the construction, leasing, and financing of commercial real estate in Connecticut and in national and international markets.

Education

University of Maine School of Law
Juris Doctorate

Walter E. Paulekas

Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania in 1956, Mr. Paulekas received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1978. Upon commission, he served as a Platoon Leader, Company Commander and Battalion Operations Officer. He later joined the Connecticut National Guard while attending the Western New England College School of Law where he received his J.D. in 1986. In law school, he was a member of the WNEC Law Review and won the ABA-sponsored Counseling Competition. Mr. Paulekas is admitted to the Connecticut Bar, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Paulekas is a litigator and insolvency lawyer who represents financial institutions, businesses and developers in federal and state litigation proceedings involvin g environmental, commercial and bankruptcy matters. Mr. Paulekas also has extensive experience in commercial real estate workout and restructuring transactions, business acquisitions and sales, banking law and the disposition of REO properties and loan pools. He has been the firm's managing partner since 1995.

Education

Western New England College School of Law
Juris Doctorate

Scott P. Consoli

Born in Methuen, Massachusetts in 1961, Mr. Consoli received his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1983 and his J.D., cum laude, from the Boston College School of Law in 1986. Mr. Consoli was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and the Connecticut Bar in 1986. He is a member of the Massachusetts, Connecticut, and American Bar Associations as well as the International Conference of Shopping Centers and the Real Estate Finance Association. Mr. Consoli's practice encompasses real estate acquisitions, development, leasing, financing and zoning. His representation of developers includes the development and leasing of retail centers, office buildings, hotels, golf courses and industrial properties, and affordable housing projects including the implementation of tax credit financing and State and Federal loans and grants. He also is experienced in the acquisition, construction and financing of privatized military housing, health care facilities and development projects for Native American Tribes.

Education

Boston College School of Law
Juris Doctorate

David A. Hill

Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, in 1966, Mr. Hill received his B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1988 and his J.D. from the University Of Connecticut School Of Law in 1992, where he graduated with High Honors. He was a member of the Connecticut Law Review from 1990-1992 and served as its Managing Editor from 1991-1992. He is admitted to practice before the following courts: Connecticut, 1992; Massachusetts, 1993; District of Connecticut, 1993; New York, 1994; District of Massachusetts, 1994; Southern District of New York, 1996; First Circuit Court of Appeals, 2000; Eastern District of New York, 2002; Second Circuit Court of Appeals, 2003. He is a member of the Hartford County, Connecticut and American Bar Associations. Mr. Hill represents clients in federal and state litigation proceedings and appellate advocacy with a focus on complex business disputes , creditor bankruptcy litigation, real estate-related contracts, and landlord-tenant litigation. Mr. Hill also has extensive experience in corporate acquisitions and international business transactions and related litigation.

Education

University Of Connecticut School Of Law
Juris Doctorate

Lawrence A. Dvorin

Born in West Hartford, Connecticut in 1961, Mr. Dvorin received his B.M. from the University of Miami in 1984 and his J.D. cum laude from Suffolk University School of Law in 1989. He was a member of the Suffolk University Law Review from 1987-1989 where he served as Comment Editor from 1988-1989. He was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1989 and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in 1990. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association (Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section). Mr. Dvorin represents clients in all facets of creditors' rights, including the collection, workout, bankruptcy and foreclosure of commercial real estate and asset-based loans. Mr. Dvorin also represents financial institutions in commercial, real estate and asset-based financing transactions, the sale of REO properties and of loan pools.

Education

Suffolk University School of Law
Juris Doctorate

Matthew H. Youmans

Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1965, Mr. Youmans received his B.A. from Tufts University in 1987 and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1991, where he graduated with Honors. He was a member of the Connecticut Journal of International Law from 1989-1991 and served as its Executive Editor from 1990-91. He was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1991, the United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit in 1992, and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in 1995. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association. Mr. Youmans represents financial institutions in asset-based and real estate lending transactions on a national basis, and the sale of commercial loan pools. He also counsels small and middle-market business clients in structuring, management and employment matters, including representation before state administrative agencies. He is a Sterling Educational Services lecturer on non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements.

Education

University of Connecticut School of Law
Juris Doctorate

Eleanor N. Bortolan

Born in Clovis, New Mexico, in 1965, Ms. Bortolan received her B.A., cum laude, from Boston University in 1987, and her J.D. from The Catholic University of America in 1990. She was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1990 and is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association. Ms. Bortolan works in both the Transactional and Litigation Departments of the firm, with an emphasis on the representation of financial institutions in asset-based financing and commercial real estate transactions. Ms. Bortolan also has extensive experience in the representation of institutional investors in the acquisition, sale and leasing of commercial real estate.

Education

The Catholic University of America
Juris Doctorate

Kelvin L. Thomas

Kelvin L. Thomas - Born in Gainesville, FL, in 1982, Mr. Thomas received his B.S. in Economics from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2006 and a joint Juris Doctorate, Masters of Business Administration from the Western New England University School of Law. He was admitted to Bar of both Connecticut and Massachusetts in 2015. Prior to attending Western New England, Mr. Thomas served in Afghanistan as a Captain in the United States Army, receiving a number of combat service and achievement awards. Later, he also served as a Logistics Officer with the Connecticut Army National Guard. Mr. Thomas has focused his practice on real estate based litigation, contract disputes and business transactions

Education

Western New England University School of Law
Juris Doctorate

Elizabeth M. Cristofaro

Born in Plainville, Connecticut in 1959, Ms. Cristofaro received her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1981 and her J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1984. She is admitted to practice in the following courts: Connecticut, 1984; District Court of Connecticut, 1985; Second Circuit Court of Appeals, 1992; and the United States Supreme Court, 1993. She is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriters' Society (PLUS), having chaired the Hartford Chapter from 2013 through 2015. She is the past Chair of the Professional Liability Committee of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), and is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA). She has been peer review recognized as a Super Lawyer in Connecticut in the area of professional liability defense. Ms. Cristofaro represents professionals in defending liability claims and litigation. She has 30 years' experience defending attorneys, accountants, insurance agents, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists and miscellaneous professionals in litigation and mediation.

She has been invited to speak at numerous national conferences, such as DRI's Annual Meetings, and local organizations such as the Hartford Chapter of PLUS. She is nationally recognized in her field and has authored numerous articles and case notes in DRI's For the Defense and the ABA's Standing Committee on Lawyer's Professional Liability. She also frequently speaks at in-house continuing legal education presentations

Matthew R. Kinell

Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1984, Mr. Kinell received his B.S. in Information Management and Technology from Syracuse University in 2006 and his J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law in 2009. Mr. Kinell is admitted to the Connecticut Bar and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. He is a member of the Connecticut and American Bar Associations. Mr. Kinell's practice focuses on representation of financial institutions in asset based financing and commercial real estate transactions. Mr. Kinell also has extensive experience in zoning, land use, and the acquisition, sale and leasing of commercial real estate.